Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-02-17
A 8TATHSMAN'6 VIEWS OF IN
TEMPERANCE.

In the winter OF l0O( Ex-GOv. John
A. Andrew, the greatest American
statesman, since Lincoln, made great
argument against the principle Of pro-
hibitory liquor law before committee Of
legislature Of Massachusetts. Andrew
avowed his contempt TOR the prevailing
hypocrisy practised as to the use of wine.
He respected the discretion OF the in
dividual who abstained from it, either
from fear Of being tempted beyond SELF:
control or for example to others in dan
ger, but he demanded equal respect for
his own discretion. He believed that law
had Of itself no reforming power; that
while it may punish and terrify it canpot
convert. He argued that ''only in the
strife and actual controversy of life
natural, human and free-can robust
virtue be attained or positive good accom-
plishcd." He described the experiment
Of society cntrusting "the keeping of its
virtue to the criminal law as the effete
blunder antiquatcd despotisms, tried by
so many nations and ages and always
resulting in failure and defeat" To the
that drunkenness is the
parent cause Of nearly al! our social woes,
That against its ravages, it is impossible to
a successful moral war, he
answered that moral philosophy, human
experience and history oil command a |
dissent to these dogmas.
Henson, experience and history all unite
to prove that while drunkenness lies in
near relation with poverty and other
niseries and is very often their proximate
,ause it is not true that it is the parent
u essential cause, without which they
would not have been" He declared
hat "hard climate, much exposure,
title variety Of food and great want of
culinary skill, few amusements, the
bsence of light, cheering beverages,
ence Of care and responsibility cultivated
and the prevalence OF ascetic
md gloomy theories of life, duty and
providence have, in time past, all CON-
lined to increase the perils Of the people
rom tho seductive narcotic. A man
'hosc virtue was weak, or whose dis
engagements were great, or whose
urdens were heavy, or in whom the
piIit waged unequal war with the allure
rents Of the flesh, or even one in whom
certain native gayety stroye with the
nwclcome exactions of the elders, was
ften easily its victim" From this
atement Andrew proceeded to define
independence, intelligence, self-respect,
roader views, kinder and tender SYM
athies, the cultivation of the finer tastes
he love and appreciation of beauty, a !
uer humanity, better social theories" !,
the potent influence that had gradually /
zen made instrumental in the deliver.
ice Of tho people from the bondage Of
"Ths evil of drunken
ess," he declared, 'needed to be met
it'll gracious gospel kindlipg the heart 4
It by crushing sense OF guilt goading L
% conscience" He described the b
'glnal movement for temperance re-
rmation as 80 true and genuine gospel
ork; mission Of love and hope that, il
bile it held fast BY its original sim. a
icity, while it pleaded with Christ.like
lfforgctfulness and sought cut the
nerosity Of all embracing charity, while !,
twined itself around the heart strings n
d quietly persuaded the erring, or with
honest boldness rebukcd without anger
1t was strong in the Lord and in the g,
wer Of his might; but when il passed 81
I of the hands of its evangelists and
ssed into the hands Of the centurion
1 the hirelings; when it became a part d.
the capital Of political speculation, and
Mt into the jugglery of the caucus;
en men voted to lay abstinence as o.
rden on their neighhors, while they :
no duty Of such abstinence them =
res (even under the laws of their own N
atom; when the gospel, the Christian II
'rch aud the ministers of religion were IN
led to the car Of political triumph, N
n it became the victim Of one of the nj